Chapter 11 First Contact
Molly nodded and doubled away.
James turned back to the truck. Most of the zombies had now jumped down and were starting to disperse in all directions. A group of ANA soldiers doubled over to the truck and raises their weapons.
James ran towards them waiving his arms. "No, no, no!" He shouted "civilians, children!"
The soldiers hesitated unsure of what to do. James racked his brain for the right Pashto phrase."Na Na, wadrega atfal!"
The soldiers nodded in understanding then one of them pointed back to the truck. James turned to see a figure emerging from the drivers cab. Despite the glowing red eyes and mucus covered mouth and chin he would have recognised that face anywhere, it would be seared on his brain 'till the end of his days. It was the face that he had seen through his rifle sight just before he had been shot over six months before. It was Badrai.
James turned back to the ANA soldiers "feel free to fill that one full of lead though" Then in Pashto "aor, aor!"
Badrai snarled and jumped onto the roof of the truck in one leap as the Afghan soldiers opened fire. Bullets thudded into the front and side of the vehicle and the windscreen shattered. The zombie ran to the back of the truck and jumped over 20 metres onto the roof of the admin block before scrambling across the top of the building and disappearing over the other side.
"How the hell did he do that ?" Wondered James to himself. He then turned to the Afghan troops and through a series of gestures and broken phrases ordered them to pursue the zombie.
A short time later, Kinders, Molly and the rest of two section came running up to James followed by the training contingent in full zombie warfare kit.
Molly had managed to change out of her running clothes and had also grabbed James' combat gear. He hurriedly pulled it on as he briefed Kinders.
"Ok corporal" he said, "we have around 30 hostiles, including women and children, dispersed around the camp. They also have some kind of super zombie among then. He seems to be capable of significant physical and mental activity including running at speed, jumping large distances and driving a heavy goods vehicle"
"Oooo, like a super zombie" said Mansfield Mike
"Or a zombie king" put in Fingers
"That would assume they have rejected a republican system of government" said Brains.
"So it could be the Zombie president?" suggested Dangleberries
"Maybe" said Brains, "or a zombie Prime Minister, depending on whether they have decided to have a separate head of state and head of government."
The rest of two section nodded thoughtfully.
"Umm, actually" said James "this particular individual has a name..." He turned to Molly "its Badrai"
Molly gasped " but I ..."
"Yes you did, but they appear to have revivified him." Said James.
Molly turned pale "do you think he is coming after me?" She asked nervously.
"There is no way of knowing what he is doing here, all we can do is be prepared. Kinders" said James turning to the corporal. "Let's have four immersion squads dispersed through the camp each with two instructors. Let's also deploy armed sentries just in case Badrai turns up."
"Yes sir" said Kinders and started rattling off instructions to the rest of the section.
The training contingent was soon split up and three squad marched off to different parts of the camp while one remained by the abandoned truck and started to deploy its equipment.
James radioed the colonel to outline the situation and the plan he had initiated. He then contacted Azizi to discuss the ANA support role, confirming that they should not engage with the zombies but try and contain them in the camp until the immersion teams where fully deployed.
James then watched carefully as the remaining squad completed its set up, guided by Molly and Mansfield Mike. The ANA NCO who was their makeshift interpreter was running around like a maniac, gesticulating and gurning as well as preparing to to enter the pool as their SHAAtt operative.
James called Mansfield Mike over. "Is he all right?" Asked James, nodding at the NCO.
"who old Aasif sir? He's fine. Does the work of two men" said Mansfield Mike confidently.
"Yer, unfortunately they are Laurel and Hardy" said Molly walking over with a smile .
Mansfield Mike bridled "oh Dawsey don't be like that, he is a treasure!"
Molly went to respond but James cut in "I know Private, you agree and he should be put in a chest a buried somewhere"
Molly grinned and went back to supervising the squad.
Kinders came over the radio "Sir, we are all set here."
James pressed his radio button "ok corporal proceed."
Shortly after Mansfield Mike gave the thumbs up and James nodded.
At a word from the private, Aasif stripped his top off and strode towards the pool, his paunch now hardly protruding over his standard issue low slung belt whilst a strategically placed balled up pair of socks also helped hint at something interesting occurring below the buckle.
James grimaced at the sight but knew the importance of building confidence in the individual in order to promote the production of the all important pheromones.
At the same time the EAAAR section switched on the karaoke machine and an Afghan private started to belt out a number in the best pub singer tradition:
"Get up
Get on up
Get up
Get on up
Stay on the scene
Get on up
Like a sex machine"
Within a few minutes the first zombies came into view, shuffling slowly towards the pool.
Aasif shifted nervously in the solution.
"Keep him calm Mansfield" ordered James "we can't risk them dispersing now we have their attention"
Mansfield Mike went over to the Afghan giving him a reassuring pat on the back and a thumbs up that seems to settle him somewhat.
Soon the first zombies were entering the pool and the restraint and immersion team swung into action.
"Gentle with those children" James cautioned, but he needn't have worried as Molly was there keeping a close eye on proceedings.
They were soon dealing with the last of the zombies and a self congratulatory air was spreading through the squad.
"Stay focussed" James cautioned, and almost to underline his words gunfire was heard in the distance followed by a shouted warning from one of the Afghan pickets.
Suddenly Badrai was among them, knocking the sentry flying and advancing on the immersion pool. Aasif sat frozen in fear whilst the rest of the squad started to panic, abandoning their equipment and recovering civilians and running towards their barrack block.
"Steady men" roared James, advancing into the chaos with drawn pistol and firing towards Badrai. The bullets thudded into the zombies chest and he staggered back but soon recovered and started to advance again.
Mansfield Mike sprinted towards the pool and started to haul Aasif out shouting at him to snap out of it and move.
This seemed to bring the Afghan out of his fear induced trance and he leapt out of the pool in a spray of water. He then sprinted past Mansfied Mike and crashed into the abandoned karaoke equipment, sending one of the pole mounted speakers toppling down square onto the privates head and knocking him out cold.
Badrai advanced on the stricken soldier, teeth bared in a terrifying snarl. James bellowed in rage and started to run towards the zombie but had only advanced a few paces before a charging figure overtook him and crashed into Badrai with bone crunching force.
The creature went flying but rolled into a crouching position and looked up in surprise and anger. Standing astride Mansfield Mike, chest heaving and red orbs burning was Smurf.
The rest of two section came sprinting into view but were stopped dead by James' shout of "wait out!"
Badrai growled from deep inside his throat but Smurf stood firm and responded with an equally menacing, guttural rumble that rose from his chest in an unambiguous challenge.
The Afghan started to back away and then turned and bounded at incredible speed towards the camps main entrance, over the remains of the shattered gates and out into the countryside beyond, easily evading the pursuing troops.
All eyes then turned to Smurf who had picked Mansfield Mike up gently in his arms and was carrying him towards Molly.
The zombie laid the unconscious figure down by her feet. Molly checked his vital signs and his head injury. She looked up at James and smiled. "He'll be fine, just a bang on the noggin and a bit of a shiner. Should wake with a bit of a head ache but that's all"
James nodded and looked at Smurf "Good work best recruit at Catterick. Now get yourself checked out by the medic."
Smurf shuffled off towards the med centre whilst Molly supervised the loading of Mansfield Mike onto a stretcher and followed behind.
Two section silently parted to make a path for Smurf through their ranks. Each man following the progress of the Zombie until he had disappeared from view.
"Right" said James "let's get this mess cleaned up. Mission debrief in one hour."
He then strode towards the admin block to report in to Colonel de la Billiere.
When James arrived at the debrief he had two section discuss the performance of each squad, their strengths and weaknesses and areas for improvement. Each squad was then called in to receive feedback. Aasif's detail was the first to troop in nervously and line up in front of the assembled trainers who where sitting in a line behind a long desk.
Kinders started off, saying that they weren't doing too badly until the Badrai incident which culminated in a bit of a disaaaster. He produced a paddle from under the table with a four on it. The rest of two section looked at him in shock and shook their heads.
Next came Brains who smiled at the assembled squad "what I like about you lot is that you came out and gave it a bit of welly. You've never done this before and it was a good effort, well done"
From under the table he produced a paddle saying at the same time "se-vern!"
Finally Dangleberries looked at the soldiers and rose from his seat. "It was good but you need full extension of the arms when you are expressing the music"
With that he fling his arms around to illustrate the point then sat down and produced his paddle with a seven on it. Brains and Dangleberries then turned to each other smiling and fanned themselves with their paddles.
James turned to the squad and said, "things to think about there lads. If it's any consolation you are my favourites"
With that the troops marched out the room.
It wasn't until gone noon that James was able to visit the med centre to check on Mansfield Mike. He was awake and joking with Molly, an ice pack pressed to his head.
"At ease Private" James said quickly as the injured man made to stand up. "How are you feeling?"
"Much better, thank you sir"
"Good. You know it could have been a lot different if it hadn't been for Private Smith" said James.
"I know sir, I owe him my life" said Mansfield Mike.
Smurf then shuffled into the room and stood waiting. "Hello mate!" Said the patient. "Fancy getting some raw steak? I can have a bit for my black eye and you can have the rest for your lunch"
Smurf let out a series of grunts to which Mansfield Mike said "Come on, it was a bit funny"
Then the two friends left the room and crossed the adjacent parade ground heading towards two sections quarters. James followed them out and watched as they entered the large tent.
The sound of cheering broke out almost immediately followed by the sound of singing:
"He's one of the living, he's one of the living, Dylan Smith he's one of the living!"
Smurf responded in a series of groans and grunts which Mansfield Mike translated:
"He says thanks very much but if he doesn't get some scoff soon he's going to be tempted to try the 50 soldier challenge"
James smiled and shook his head. The re-appearance of Badrai would have serious repercussions for their mission here, but for now he would take the one positive which seemed to have resulted. Smurf was back in the team.